Arch support for shoes



H. B'. NORTHROP.

ARCH SUPPORT FOR SHOES.

APPucATxoN mso JAN. 1e, 1922.

1,437,991, Patented Dee. 5,1922.

4 .v/za l Il* Z i Iggy/11111111- /7 le 5 5 Patented Der. 5, i922..

siren stars HENRY B. Noa'riiiior, or BEVERLY, yMassacarUsn'i "'is.

ARCH SUPPORT FOR SHOES.

Application led January 16, 1922. Serial No. 529,544.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. NORTHROP, a citizen of the United Statesresiding at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of -Massachusetts, have invented new and use'- ful Improvements in Arch Supports for Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is embodied in certain im# provenients in an arch support adapted to be loosely inserted in a shoe.

@ne object of the invention is to provide an arch support, the bearing surfaces of which may be conveniently modified in shape by a chiropodist to adapt the support to individual peculiarities or differences.

Another object is to enable the support to be made resilient, or of increased resilience by the application of a reinforcing spring member thereto.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this .specification,-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an arch support embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 4 is a section on line M of Figure 1, showing an interposed pad.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing a differently arranged pad.

Figure 6 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 2, showing another pad-arrangement.

Figure 7- is a perspective view of the reinforcing spring member.

Figure 8 is a section on line 8 8 of Figure 3.

In the drawings, 12 represents the body or sole member of the arch support, the same being preferably a piece of sole leather having a heel portion l2, and an anterior end portion 12b. One edge of the member is curved upwardly at 12C, as usual, to conform to a shoe upper above the inner edge of the shank portion of theinsole, and to the corresponding portion of the foot, the form of the member being such that when loosely inserted in a shoe, it is confined in a predetermined position by internal surface portions of the shoe.

13 represents a clamping member of sheet material, preferably sheet metal, having heel end and anterior endportions conforming approximately to the heel and anterior end portions of the sole member. The clamping member is rigidly secured to the sole member at a point near its heel end portion, by rastening means, preferably embodied in two rivets 14, engaged with lthe clamping member within the margin of its heel end portion, and arranged in tandem order length` wise of the support, this arrangement of the rivets preventing the members 13 and 14 from swinging relatively to each other. The clamping member is placed under the sole member, and islfree, excepting around the rivets, to move toward and from the sole member, so vthat a pad or cushion -16 may be inserted between any part of the margin of the clamping member and the corresponding part of the under surface of the sole member.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show different forms of interposed pads. Figure 6 shows a pad interposed between the end portions of the members, in position to support the anterior end portion 12b. Figure 4 'shows a pad in position to support the upturned portion 12C. Figure 5 shows a pad in position to support a portion of the sole member' opposite the said upturned portion. A pad may' be' inserted between the members in position to support a part of the heel end portion 12L of the sole member.

The upper'side of the clamping member 13 is roughened to engage an inserted pad and prevent displacement thereof] Said member is preferably roughened by punching holes 18 therein in such manner as to forni buris 19 projecting from the upper surface of the clamping member, and adapted to indent a pad 16. When the support is in use, the pressure of the foot on the sole member causes the clamping member, which rests on the insole, to closely coniine a pad inserted at any desired point between the members.

It will be seen that a chiropodist may t the protector with a pad located and formed to provide a special support for any part of the foot requiring such support.

20 representsa reinforcing spring member, preferably lof tempered steel, formed to be inserted between the sole member 12 and the free major portion of the clamping member 13, to impart resilience to the support. The spring member has an open longitudinal slot 21 at its heel end, so that said end is forked, and is adapted to bestride the rivets 14, as indicated by Figures 3 and 8, the longitudinal arrangement of the slot and the rivets preventing the spring. member from yso swinging edgewise relatively to the members l2 and 18. rlhe forward end or the spring member may have a llexible tongue 22, adapted to loosely enter a slot 23 in the clamping member, and prevent forward endwise displacementl of the spring member, when the support is in use. The tore portion of the sole member bears on thelspring member and holds the latter against the clamping member. W hen the support is removed from the shoe, the spring member may be readily applied and removed.

r)Che area or' the sole member 2 is considerably greater than that of the clamping member',y and the arrangement is such that the entire margin oiI the clamping member is spaced inwardly trom the margin of the sole member, so that the sole member may be trimmed to reduce its area, and fit it to peculiarities ot a shoe. One side of the sole membermay be marked to guide the operator in trimming.

The reinforcing member may be formed to project from one edgev ot the clamping member 13, the projecting portion being curved to conform to the curvature oi the sole member l2 at 12C, and rendered flexible by slits 25. The sole member l2 may be provided with pivoted buttons 26, adapted to engage the forward end of the clamping member 13, and releasably confine said end.

I claim:

l. An arch support comprising a leXible sole member shaped to conform to portions or the interior of a shoe, and the corresponding portions ot the foot, and a. flexible clamping member of sheet material under the sole member, fastening means rigidly connecting the heel end portions of the said members within their margins, all portions or' the margin and the major portion ot the raaf/,esi

tore part of the clamping member being tree to move toward and from the sole member, so that a pad or cushion may be interposed between various parts of the margin ot' said members, the upper surface of the clamping member being roughened to engage and prevent displacement oit an -interposed pad.

2. in arch support substantially as specitied by claim l, the said clamping member being roughened by upwardly projecting burrs integral with said member and adapted to indent an interposed pad.

3. in arch support, comprising a ieXible sole member shaped to conform to portions of tl e interior ot a. shoe, and the corresponding portions or' the foot, a flexible clamping member or' sheet material under the sole member, a plurality or'l rivets rigidly connesting the heel end portions of the said members within 'their margins, and arranged in tandem order lengthwise or' the support, all portions o the margin and the major portion ot the torepart ont the clamping member being tree to move toward and from the sole member, and a reinforcing spring member formed to be interposed between the sole and clamping members, and provided in its heel end with a longitudinal slot adapted to bestride said rivets, when the spring member is moved rearwardly between the Y sole and clamping members, the arrangement of the said rivets and slot being such thattlie sole and clamping members are prevented from swingingrelatively to each other, and the spring member is prevented -from swinging relatively to the sole and clampingv members.

ln testimony whereof l have affixed my signature.

HENRY B. NORTHROP. 

